Matapos mabigo kay dating Mexican world super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon noong Agosto 11 ng 2007 via first-round TKO, marami ang nagdudang makakabawi pa si Filipino Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.
Matapos ang nasabing kabiguan kay Ponce De Leon para sa World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight belt, tatlong sunod na laban ang ipinanalo ng tubong Candijay, Bohol.
“Nagbalik na talaga ‘yung confidence ko. I am feeling strong at kaya kong labanan kahit na sino diyan,” sabi ng 22-anyos na si Bautista, may 26-1-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 12 KOs, matapos talunin sina Mexican Antonio Meza (24-5-1, 16 KO’s), Genaro Camargo (21-4, 14 KO’s) at Eden Marquez (16-5-3, 12 KO’s).
Hangad na makaagaw ng eksena sa undercard ng world light welterweight championship nina Ricky Hatton at Paulie Malignaggi, sasagupain ni Bautista si Mexican Heriberto “Cuate” Ruiz (39-7-2, 23 KOs) ngayon (Manila time) sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Si Bautista ang kasalukuyang hari sa WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight division at tumatayong No.1 sa WBO, No.7 sa International Boxing Federation (IBF), No.11 sa World Boxing Council (WBC) at No.7 sa World Boxing Association (WBA).
“We want to silence some of the doubters, and we feel very confident that Boom Boom will accomplish some of that when he delivers what we expect to be a fine performance,” wika ni Filipino manager Michael Aldeguer. (Russell Cadayona)